Apr212018

Google Expands Predictions Removed from Autocomplete Search

Autocomplete, a feature designed to make completing a search faster is available now anywhere there is a Google search box, including home page, Google app for through the quick search box and “OMNibox” address bar within Chome.

The feature begin predictions as you type and sometimes also it helps completing individual words and phrases.

It’s though most useful on mobile, at the same time it’s a huge time saver for both mobile and desktop as it save over 200 years of typing time per day by reducing typing by about 25 percent, says Google.

On average, it reduces typing by about 25 percent

Cumulatively, we estimate it saves over 200 years of typing time per day. Yes, per day!

In a second installment today, Google tells us “when, where and how autocomplete works” as well as peek into the login behing these predictions and policies that govern prediction removal and more. Also, it revealed about the expansion of the types of autocomplete predictions disallowed in the coming weeks.

The post explains “predicitions changes in response to typed in characters, for example, typing from “san f” to “san fe” stops San Francisco-related predictions from showing, as it becomes clear that the additional letter isn’t doing a search that relate to San Francisco,” so the predictions change to something more relevant.

Here is an example image showing the change when typed in “san fe”:

About the predictions being removed, include those against autocomplete policies, determined as spam, that are closely associated with piracy, or in response to valid legal requests. “Autocomplete should not shock users with unexpected or unwanted predictions,” stated Google.

More specifically, Google removes following some predictions:

Sexually explicit predictions that are not related to medical, scientific or sex education topics.

Hateful predictions against groups and individuals on the basis of race, religion or several other demographics.

That said, the new policy will remove predictions those are “perceived as hateful or prejudiced toward individuals and groups, without particular demographics.” Adding, Google said, “With the greater protections for individuals and groups, there may be exceptions where compelling public interest allows for a prediction to be retained.” With groups, “predictions might also be retained if there’s clear ‘attribution of source’ indicated.”

As for violence, Google said, the policy will now cover removal of predictions “which seem to advocate, glorify or trivialize violence and atrocities, or which disparage victims.”

Reporting Inappropriate Predictions

Google admits they “aren’t perfect” and some predicitions might slip through from removal, in such case it’s asking users to report anything inappropriate when encountered througn the “Report inappropriate predictions” link located below the search box on desktop.

See this screen shot below:

A long press on a prediction will reveal reporting option on mobile or on Google app for Android, while swiping to the left will get you the reporting option on Google app on iOS.

Google said, usually “one or more changes” designed to improve results are released on each day. Adding, it said, “Some are focused around specific improvements. Some are broad changes.”

And, that the core search updates releases routinely “several times per year.” And, as with any update, “some sites may note drops or gains”. There’s nothing wrong with pages that may now “perform less well,” instead, it’s a change benefiting pages that were “previously under-rewarded,” stated Google.

On Monday, we released a broad core algorithm update, as we routinely do throughout the year. For background and advice about these, see our tweet from last month: https://t.co/uPlEdSu6xp

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Deepak Gupta is a IT & Web Consultant. He is the founder and CEO of diTii.com & DIT Technologies, where he's engaged in providing Technology Consultancy, Design and Development of Desktop, Web and Mobile applications using various tools and softwares. Sign-up for the Email for daily updates. Google+ Profile.